CarGo wins prestigious player of the year award

Coors Field bias? Inflated statistics? Media types hold them against Rockies players when it comes time to name award winners. But not CarGo’s fellow players.

Gonzalez today was named the winner of the highest award bestowed on a player by his fellow major leaguers: the Players Choice Award as the player of the year in the major leagues.

Gonzalez earlier was named the outstanding player in the National League over Albert Pujols and Joey Votto. He won the award for both leagues over Josh Hamilton and Votto, who is considered the front-runner to win the N.L. MVP award, as voted on by the media.

The player of the year award is the latest development in Gonzalez’s whirlwind season, his first full season in the major leagues. He led the league in hitting (.336), hits (197) and total bases (351) and finished second in RBIs (117) and slugging percentage (.598). He also ranked third in runs (111) and fourth in home runs (34).

While Votto figures to win the MVP award, Rockies manager Jim Tracy is on record as saying it would be a shame if Gonzalez, who spent extensive time in all three outfield spots, doesn’t win a Gold Glove.

Final footnote on CarGo’s season: He drove in those 117 runs despite spending virtually one-third of the season in the leadoff spot.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.